Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-07-21

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Greece, Libya sign cooperation memorandum

[02] Conservation plan for Lake Koronia

[03] PASOK leader hosts dinner for MPs

[04] European Commission seeks public input on flood protection

[01] Greece, Libya sign cooperation memorandum

Valynakis expressed his satisfaction with the traditionally good ties between Greece and Libya, noting that his was the second visit by a Greek minister to Libya within the space of two months, and stressed that the Greek government was ready to further develop these ties on all levels.

The Greek minister particularly praised Libya's decision to abandon programmes for the production of weapons of mass destruction, saying that this decision had set in motion a chain of events that had brought Libya into the forefront of international news and had earned it high respect in the international community.

Valynakis and his Libyan counterpart also referred to policy for the Mediterranean Sea, noting that this should be an area of "peace and cooperation" and a "means of communication between neighbouring friendly states".

[02] Conservation plan for Lake Koronia

Local authorities hope to secure â¬30 million from the EU's Cohesion Fund in order to realise the plans they propose.

In the meantime, the prefecture has secured â¬17 million for the construction of a sewage system in the municipality of Lagadas as well as for the execution of environmental studies concerning protection of the lake.

Finally, the prefecture has already adopted a series of protective measures, such as prohibiting fishing, reducing the amount of water that can be abstracted by industry, and placing signs around the lake in an effort to raise public awareness.

[03] PASOK leader hosts dinner for MPs

Discussions were dominated by the labour reforms being introduced by the government, and prominent party MP and former minister Akis Tsohatzopoulos said that the main opposition party should 'raise its tone' as of now, as he predicted that there would be popular reactions to the government's measures in the Autumn, according to sources.

It was agreed that Papandreou should increase his visits to the periphery as of Autumn.

Papandreou told his MPs that the government was trying to "contain the cost of labour", thus creating unemployment and poverty, the sources said.

[04] European Commission seeks public input on flood protection

Those interested in providing their input will be able to do so at http:/europa.eu.int/comm/environment/water/flood_risk/consult.htm through September 14.

The results from this survey will be included in a relevant EU directive aimed at managing flood risk that the Commission is currently working on.

According to the Commission's press release, the directive, as well as the broader action plan, will include measures aimed at improving exchange of information and know-how in order to better utilise EU funds.

"The recent floods in Romania, Bulgaria, Austria and the West Flanders region of Belgium have shown once again how catastrophic flooding can cause human tragedy, disrupt economic life and undermine Europe's progress towards sustainable development," European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said.

"Floods are a natural phenomenon but there are ways to prevent them or at least to limit their impacts and thereby protect ourselves more effectively. Concerted action can improve flood protection all over Europe. We need better coordination involving the participation of all Member States to achieve this goal," he added.

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